$16K grant to help fight homelessness

Attendees listen as Salvation Army social service worker Ed Wilson (left) and Lieutenant Jacob Tripp announce the grant being given to area homelessness service centers.(Photo: Laura Schulte/ USA TODAY NETWORK- Wisconsin)

WAUSAU - The North Central Community Action Program announced Wednesday that it has received a grant for over $16,000 to work toward combating homelessness in Wausau.

The grant, which comes from the Emergency Solutions/Transitional Housing/Homelessness Prevention Program, was announced at The Salvation Army pig roast.

The North Central Community Action program is partnering with The Salvation Army and the Marathon County Housing and Homelessness Coalition for the grant, to start doing street outreach to the homeless who are currently not in a shelter.

"It doesn't work to just say 'here we are,'" said Jeffery Sargent, executive director of the North Central Community Action Program. "There is an opportunity to, as a coalition, have The Salvation Army go out and see where people are living. For somebody, that can make all the difference in the world."

The funding from the grant will go toward the shelter and the outreach program at The Salvation Army, as well as the warming center at the Catholic Charities location in Wausau. The goal is to keep important programs running in the community that aid people who are dealing with homelessness.

"In central Wisconsin, homelessness is a problem," Sargent said. "All agencies that are a part of the HHC are trying to address this program."

The grant will also help to provide a case worker to people who are outside of the shelter system.

Mayor Robert Mielke (center) serves food to those waiting in line at the Salvation Army pig roast Wednesday.(Photo: Laura Schulte/ USA TODAY NETWORK- Wisconsin)

"Anybody living on the streets can come to us," said Ed Wilson, the social service director. "They can work with a case worker on whatever barrier they're facing."

Wilson noted that counseling, education and help getting state identification for those who are homeless are just a few of the issues the program is targeting.

"We want to alleviate any barrier they have," Wilson said. "So that they can be stabilized as a member of the community."

Salvation Army Lieutenant Jacob Tripp said during the introduction to the event that the organization is excited to reach out to people who don't normally come to the shelter.

"There are still people out there," he said. "And we're excited to assist them."

Contact Going Out reporter Laura Schulte at 715-297-7532 or leschulte@gannett.com; on Twitter @schultelaura.